READING Men slipped deeper into relegation trouble after losing both their Premier Division matches last weekend, writes Dave Wright.
Facing top-three opponents on both days, they went down 5-0 away to Hampstead & Westminster on Saturday and 3-1 to Wimbledon at home on Sunday.
And this double blow has left them bottom of the table with just three games remaining, four points behind Brooklands Manchester University and five adrift of University of Exeter.
Blues matched second-placed Wimbledon for much of the game, with Andy Oxburgh scoring a superb goal in the 14th minute to cancel out Dominic Bowden's opener seven minutes earlier.
The hosts had chances to take the lead before a mis-clearance led to Ben Arnold restoring the visitors' lead within the opening two minutes of the second half.
Blues continued to have chances, but their defeat was sealed when Ben Francis notched Wimbledon's third shortly before the final whistle.
It means this Saturday's trip to fifth-placed Holcombe now becomes a must-win game for them.
Reading 2nds suffered their second successive defeat in MBBO Regional One when going down 3-1 at title rivals Amersham & Chalfont.
Their lead is down to six points with their closest challengers having a game in hand. Sam Welsh netted Blues' goal.
In the same division, Reading 3rds inflicted a 4-2 reverse on Oxford University 2nds and move above them into eighth place.
The 5ths sealed promotion from MBBO Division Four with five games to spare after defeating their nearest rivals, Oxford 4ths, 3-1, and will be crowned champions if they win at OMT 3rds this weekend.
Reading Ladies made certain of finishing the season with a top-two place in the Investec League Division One South following their 4-2 win at Cambridge City.
The Blues are 15 points clear of Harleston Magpies and Slough, who are third and fourth respectively, with four games remaining, but are seven points behind Wimbledon who boast a 100 per cent record after 14 games.
Abbie Dixon, Beth Marriott and Alys Richards fired the visitors into a three-goal inside the opening half-hour.
City pulled two goals back in quick succession early in the second half, before Sophie Shakespeare sealed the victory in the 56th minute.
Jo Ellis' team face another long trip this coming Saturday when they visit second-bottom Isca at Exeter.
NICK Leach and James Manser both bagged hat-tricks as Sonning crushed Marlow 2nds 7-1 to stay top of MBBO Regional Two.
Both were taking their season's tally to 17 goals, while Ian Gallagher is on 14 after adding the other goal last Saturday.
Sonning are two points ahead of South Berkshire with a game in hand ahead of their trip to Oxford 2nds this weekend.
The club's 2nds were also in good form, winning 6-0 away to Phoenix & Ranelagh with Stephen Crowther's two goals taking him on to 21 for the season.
David Painter also bagged a brace with Colm Hanlon and Douglas Whittaker completing the scoring.
Sonning are third in the table, just one point behind joint leaders Bicester and Staines 2nds.
Sonning Ladies, fourth in the table, return to South Clubs League Division 3a action this Saturday away to the bottom team, Reading 3rds.
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